Sky Assurance is an extended warranty program that lengthens Meade's standard one-year warranty to three or five years. It's supported by Meade Instruments and its qualified service technicians and by VAC Services Corp., the largest administrator of service contracts in North America.
Meade Sky Assurance offers two comprehensive repair plans for products priced over $200. These include three- and five-year repair programs. Each is effective from the date of your telescope purchase and includes Meade's one-year warranty period. Repair plans cover parts and labor costs due to defects in workmanship and materials (including normal wear and tear). If the telescope can't be repaired, it will be replaced.
Purchase either plan when you buy your telescope or up to one month before the expiration of the normal warranty period. When you receive your sign-up kit, register your telescope with the Sky Assurance program. Then, if your scope requires service, you can call the dedicated "Meade Sky Assurance" hotline at 800-291-3392 and put your worries aside. The Customer Service Representative (CSR) will locate your file by phone number or name and help you resolve the problem with your covered product. If the problem cannot be resolved by telephone, you'll receive a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number so you can box and ship the product to the Meade Service center. Shipping charges to return the scope to you are paid under the contract.
Advance shippingMeade Sky Assurance offers an advance, three-way shipping upgrade on three-and five-year plans at extra cost. Under the extra plan, the customer receives a Meade shipping container with instructions on packing and shipping products to a Meade Service Center. All shipping costs are covered under this arrangement, but you must purchase the Advance 3-Way Shipping upgrade to your Sky Assurance three- or five-year program in order to get free shipping to Meade.
Extendable for lifeThe Sky Assurance program does not have to end in three or five years. You can renew your contract in three- or five-year increments for as long as you own your scope.
Fully transferableAll programs are transferable. There are no charges to transfer the contract, but the original owner must request a transfer in writing from VAC. If you sell a telescope that is still under contract, the new owner can have all the benefits of your existing service contract.
No-lemon guaranteeIf your product is repaired for the same problem three times, Meade will replace it with a product equal in value to the original purchase price.
Fully cancelableThe program is cancelable at any time. The customer can cancel the contract in the first 30 days and receive a full refund less any claims that might have been paid. Cancellations made after the first 30 days are subject to reduced refunds.
How to purchaseYou can purchase Sky Assurance in either the three- or five-year plan when you buy your telescope. The appropriate plans will be shown as accessories to the telescope you are ordering. You can also purchase the Advance 3-Way Shipping Upgrade at the same time. We will send you everything you need to register your telescope with Meade's Sky Assurance Customer Care Center to start your extended service contract.
Later purchasesYou can also purchase Sky Assurance coverage up to 30 days before your standard one-year warranty expires. If you bought your telescopes more than a year ago, however, you cannot purchase Sky Assurance for it.
Think of it as Insurance!Extended warranties are similar to insurance. They are available on everything from automobiles to DVD players. Remember, you are purchasing a sophisticated piece of equipment that gets used in the dark! And this program covers problems that result from normal wear and tear as well as manufacturing defects. Even the best of products can have issues with use. If this "insurance policy" will help you sleep at night or encourage you to use your Meade telescope more often, it is worth it.
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